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New Mulago extension to cater for specialized care, old hospital to maintain referral services

Government borrowed $49 million, which is about Shs130 billion from the African Development Bank to renovate and equip Mulago Hospital to become a first class facility.

The construction of a super-specialized unit in Mulago Hospital is geared at reducing the cost of treatment abroad, and also retaining specialists who would opt for greener pastures.

Health minister Jane Aceng has said that the facility will maintain the referral services at the Old Mulago side, alongside the specialized unit.

The proposal presented to Parliament last week, that patients will soon have to pay for treatment at the renovated Mulago hospital has attracted debate among Ugandans and the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has voiced her objection.

While speaking at the launch of the mosquito net project in Kamuli district on Saturday, Kadaga criticized the idea of having Ugandans pay for these services.

However, the minister for health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, explains that government cannot afford to offer free super specialized services at the hospital. Aceng has asked for support for the venture, which she says, will reduce the cost of treatment abroad.

While speaking in Kampala, the minister noted that the budget provided by government cannot maintain the super-specialized machines that will be procured.Government borrowed $49 million, which is about Shs130 billion from the African Development Bank to renovate and equip Mulago ospital to become a first class facility.

Dr. Aceng says government will maintain the National referral facility at old Mulago. The new unit in lower Mulago is slated for opening in October this year.

The hospital hopes to raise Shs191 million shillings annually to go towards, among other things, staff allowances and salaries.